January 2010 Newsletter

We make and sell cat trees and Cat scratching posts and ship all over the United States. In most cases, the total cost is less than buying at your local pet store. Email us for a quote at azwholesales@gmail.com

This months newsletter is preparing your pet for airline travel. If you are planning on taking your pet with you on vacation or relocating somewhere that your pet will need to fly with you, here are a few things that will help you get that task done easier.

Did you know that many airlines have "Preferred Pet" shipping, where you can ship your pets in a climate-controlled and pressurized compartment? The larger the pet, the more it will cost you to ship your animal on an airliner.

The first things you should do is call each individual airline to find out what their restrictions are. You can also look this up on their web sites. Always make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Arrive at least two hours early to be sure everything is in order. This is pretty much standard procedure when you fly. Some pets can be carried on board with you. Every airline has special requirements and fees, so call to check. There also are a limited number of animals allowed on each flight, that is why you must make your reservations as far in advance as possible. Remember that in hot climates, certain breeds of short-nosed dogs and cats cannot fly in the heat of the summer or to some destinations. Purchase only an airline-approved pet carrier. We can order many styles and sizes of airline-approved carriers. Send us an email at www.azwholesales@gmail.com and we will send you some pics and prices. Try to get a non-stop flight and make it as early in the day which is the best time. Freeze little clip-on dishes of water the night before the flight so the ice thaws slowly. This will give your pet something to drink and it will not spill all over the cage when it is moved. Do NOT put towels, blankets, toys or pet food inside the carrier unless approved by the airline. Don't muzzle, leash or put a choke collar on your pet in the carrier. Write your contact information and the pet's name on the outside of the carrier with a black marker. The airline may have other additional charges you must pay before picking up your pet. So, be sure to ask about additional charges before making a reservation.

Remember that we are not professional doctors and you should always read instructions and talk to your vet about what is best for your pets.

December 2009 Newsletter

Here is the tip for December:
Everyone is aware that the swine flu(H1N1) virus can be fatal to humans but what about dogs and cats? Can they spread this virus to each other or a member of the human family? According to infectious disease experts, at this time the answer is most likely no. This is to say that to date no know cat/dog to human (vise versa) influenza transmissions. Until just recently.
It has been confirmed a cat has caught the H1N1 virus from humans. The Iowa Department of Public Health reported that a cat became ill with H1N1 virus after three members of the family with influenza-like symptoms on November 4, 2009. "13-year-old indoor cat in Iowa was brought to the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, where it tested positive for the H1N1 virus".
Care should be always taken to use proper sanitation and personal hygiene in all cases of illness, and especially for the ever-changing influenza viruses.
There are two types of influenza viruses: Type A and Type B. The Type A viruses are found in humans and many types of animals , usually strains specific to that species. The Type B viruses circulate widely among humans.
Dog and cats do have their own versions of influenza viruses. The canine influenza virus is an influenza Type A H3N8 virus, and the feline version is a Type A H5N1 influenza virus. (The number of letters after the type denotes the number of types of protein's on the surface of the virus. The letter H stands for Hemagglutinin and the letter N stand for neuraminidase).
While they both have influenza Type A viruses that can infect and cause illness in dogs and cats, humans are not as similar of the species to share these viruses in the current forms. There have been no reports yet of any cases that have spread to humans or form humans to pets.
"To date, there is no evidence that domestic cats have a roll in the natural transmission cycle of H5N1 viruses" and "the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has issued preliminary recommendations for cat owners living in H5N1-affected areas. These include keeping domestic cats indoors to prevent exposure to potentially infected birds and avoiding contact with semi-domestic and feral cats living outside the home." Report from the CDC "To date, there is no evidence of transmission of canine influenza from dogs to people and there has not been a single reported case of human infection with the canine influenza virus. However, human infections with new influenza viruses (against which the human population has little immunity) would be concerning if they occurred.
Influenza viruses are constantly changing and it is possible for a virus to change that it could infect humans and spread easily between humans." CDC Key Facts Sheet.
As always, if you suspect that your dog or cat is sick, please contact your veterinarian directly for an examination and to discuss any questions. Always us good sanitation practices (wash hands, etc) when dealing with animals.
This information was taken from a report written by Janet Tobiassen Crosby.

November 2009 Newsletter

We have now combined all our previous newsletters to one blog. Starting on January 1, 2010 you will fine all pet hints and information written in the past by clicking on this link: www.toys4dogsncats.blogspot.com/ You will still get the newsletter but now you will have all the information that we have passed on to you in one spot and easy to find. So, for the next two months, you will find this information in two places. For all new customers, you can read up on pet hints and information that have been published in the past.

This month we will give you information on micro chipping your pet. This article was written by Anne Pierce for one of our local papers.
Have you ever been camping, hiking, the back gate was left open accidentally or your pet just bolted out the door and your pet comes up missing? For some reason your pet lost his collar and did not have one on to identify it. Someone is going to find a pet hopefully in good health and well groomed, that obviously belongs to you. The finders have talked to everyone in the neighborhood, put up signs and and maybe even ran an ad in the local paper. Most of the the time, this pet is taken to the local animal shelter or the shelter comes out and picks it up. In most places, the shelter must keep the pet for 72 hours. We have heard and read horror stories that a pet was not held long enough and was euthanized by mistake.
The best form of identification available is a microchip. It never falls off or gets worn or mangled beyond recognition, and it provides proof of ownership in a way that a collar and a tag cannot. These rice-grain sized computer chips are implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. When a scanner is pasted over the microchip, it registers a number, and the number can be accessed on a data base that has all the pet's and owner's information on it. Once you have a microchip installed, it needs to be registered. If you do not register it, you may as well not even have the process done.
Remember we are not professional doctors, and you should always read instructions and talk to your vet about what is best for your pet.

October 2009 Newsletter

Coming soon! Azwholesales is working on a blog that you will be able to open and review all the newsletters that we have written. It will be available by October 1, 2009. Also, will be any pictures that you have sent us along with pictures that we have collected over the year. Send us your favorite pictures of your pet or you and your pet and we will add them to our blog. www.azwholesales@gmail.com


This month we will give you a guide lines on how to buy apparel that will fit your pet the first time. Keep in mind if your pet is over weight. We carry a wide variety of pet apparel, if you do not see it, on our web site let us know and we will find it for you. Also, some fun cat facts.

Sizing Guide:
BACK: Measure length of pet's back from the base of the neck to the base of the tail.

NECK: Measure the circumference of pet's neck for a snug fit. No need to add inches as you would with a collar.

CHEST/GIRTH: Measure girth around the broadest part of the chest and add 2".

NOTE: If you dog is stout build, select one size larger.

Recommended sizing for XXSmall breeds: Teacup and dogs under 5 pounds.

Recommended sizing for XSmall breeds: Australian Terrier, Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier.

Recommended sizing for Small Breeds: Boston Terrier, Brussels Griffon,
Jack Russel Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Miniature Pinscher, Norfolk Terrier, Papillon,
Pug, Silky Terrier

Recommended sizing for Medium Breeds: Beagle, Bichon Frise, Cocker Spaniel, Corgi, Scottish Terrier, Shih Tzu, West Highland Terrier, Whippet

Recommended sizing for Large Breeds: Brittany Spaniel, Bulldog, Collie, Schnauzer, Springer Spaniel

Recommended sizing for XLarge Breeds: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Dalmation, Golden Retriever, Vizsla, Weimaraner

Size Length Fits Neck Fits Chest
XXS 6" 6" to 10" 10" to 14"
XS 8" 8" to 12" 12" to 16"
S 12" 10" to 14" 16" to 20"
M 16" 12" to 16" 18" to 26"
L 20" 16" to 20" 24" to 30"
XL 24" 18" to 26" 28" to 36"

* If your cat is near you, and its tail is quivering, this is the greatest expression of love your cat can give you. If its tail starts thrashing, its mood has changed---Time to distance yourself from her.

* Don't pick a kitten up by the scruff of its neck; only mother can do this safely and only with her kittens.

* Cats Knead with their paws when they're happy.

* A cat will almost never "meow" at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans.

* People who own pets live longer, have less stress, and have fewer heart attacks.

* Cats can see color.

Remember that we are not professional doctors and you should always read instructions and talk to your vet about what is best for your pet.

September 2009 Newsletter

This month we are printing the top pet myths that we found in one of our pet magazines that we subscribe to and also a list of the top ten dogs that are the easiest to train. This list is in no particular order but is a little different that the 10 smartest dogs.

* Here is a list of the dogs: Border Collie, Labrador Retriever, Papillion, Beauceron, Pyrenean Shepherd, Australian Shepherd, Belgian Sheepdog, Toy Poodle, Australian Cattle Dog and Doberman Pinscher.

* Top Pet Myths Busted
If you own a pet, you're bound to here some strange things from time to time. Some of them may leave you scratching your head and thinking "I wonder if that's true" Well here's a few of the most popular myth's and the truth about them.
Myth#1: Corn on the cob is safe for my dog.
Fact: Most people are unaware of the risk of feeding your dog cob on the cob. People understand the risks of feeding dogs table scraps, especially those high in fat and although corn on the cob may seem like a healthy alternative in a pet's diet, serious dangers exist.
Corn cobs can cause intestinal obstruction, a serious and potentially fatal condition. Signs of intestinal obstruction vomiting, dry heaves, diarrhea, anorexia, painful abdomen and lethargy. And many dogs are allergic to corn and will suffer both the effects of the allergy and the potential intestinal obstruction. So keep those tasty, salty, buttery and fun-to-chew corn cobs away from your dogs. Don't forget to safely secure the trash as well. Dogs can be awfully clever scavengers. If you suspect your dog has eaten a cob, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Myth #2: Tapeworms come from bad food.
Fact: Most pets become infected with tapeworms from swallowing fleas or from eating infected mice or other animals that carry the parasite. To help protect against tapeworms make sure your pet is fully protected against fleas. And consider a strategy for eliminating mice, other rodents and rabbits. When treating your pet for tapeworms, select a product labeled specifically for tapeworms, e.g. prazquaentel.

Myth#3: Garlic on your pet's food will get rid of worms.
Fact: Garlic may make the animal's food taste better but has no effect on worms. The most effective way to treat worms is by medication.

Myth#4: Dogs and cats eat grass when they're sick.
Fact: Not True. Many dogs and cats simply enjoy the taste and texture of grass. Beware, however, if your pet begins snacking in your garden. Certain common plants such as rhododendrons, daffodils and marigolds can be toxic for your pets.

* Here is one for the cat lovers. Does your cat like to unroll the toilet paper roll all over the room? Try this, turn the roll around so when your cat tries to unroll the paper, it will only go around in circles. After a while, your cat should get bored and leave the roll alone. If not, hid the roll in the wall with a flip up door.

Remember that we are not professional doctors and you should always read instructions and talk to your vet about what is best for your pets.

August 2009 Newsletter

Here is the pet tip of the month. We are sure that everyone has had or heard of trouble with a tick on their pet or someone else's pet. Try this when a tick starts showing its head.
This method can be used to get them off of you, your children or your pets. Give this a try next time you run into a tick. This method will work in places were it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball, cover the tick with a soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it a few seconds (15 to 20), the tick will come out on its own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away.

This technique should work every time. We've used it and it's much less traumatic for the patient. Unless someone is allergic to soap, we can't see that this would be damaging in any way.

Remember that we are not professional doctors, and you should always read instructions and talk to your vet about what is best for your pet.

June 2009 Newsletter

Our store at www.toys4dogsncats.com is now a more friendlier site to visit for your pet supplies. Please put this site in your favorites so it is only a click away when you want to find pet supplies at a reasonable cost. You will be able to use your credit cards through Paypal to make your purchases. When you buy from our eBay store, we have to add in all the extra costs of doing business. This increases the cost of the item you want to buy. We have now added 275 items to this site and when it is finished, the old site at www.azwholesale.net will be shut down. If there is something that you are interested in , let us know and we can put it one the new site for you ahead of other planned items. Let us know if you have any problems with this site and we will get it fixed right away. We will always strive to keep our prices as low as possible to save you money. We are a customer oriented business that takes care of our customers.

* Next month we will be doing a rerun by popular demand. So many of our customers want us to rerun our newsletter on keeping your pet cool in the hot summer months. (See July 2008 Newsletter)

* This month is how you can talk to your dog. Good communication with your pet will give both of you a very rewarding life together. When talking to your pet, you must keep your communication simple, clear and to one word commands. When talking to your pet, say the command word only once for maximum effect. You dog has excellent hearing (unless they are sick or very old) and can remember a word that you give them up to two minutes. If you dog does not respond to you when you give it a command, it's not that they don't hear you - it's because they are not listening. So make sure you have your pets attention when talking to them.

* Your dog will not understand large vocabulary but each command should be linked to a specific object or action. Don't talk to your dog in sentences, they will not understand what you are saying. Your pet however can tell by the tone of your voice if it is happy or sad and most will respond accordingly.

* If your dogs eyes are blinking rapidly, it is a sign of nervousness or that they are in deep thought. If you just gave them a command, they may be deciding whether to obey.

* Dogs use urine markings to communicate. It could mean territoriality, possessiveness or hostility. If you pay attention to where your dog marks, you may get a better understanding on how to address their concerns. If your dog nudges you in the crotch, it's just trying to get to know you from your scent.

* If you want to learn more about this subject, look for books by Dr. Nicholas Dodman.

* Here is a quick tip for cat owners: Does your cat keep digging in your plants? Put your plants up and away from their reach. Place pine cones or rocks over the soil, their paws will not like the new cover. Spray the leaves with commercial anti-chew product.

Remember that we are not professional doctors, and you should always read instructions and talk to your vet about what is best for your pets.